Otos and Algae Control

[fishboy7]

This algae I'm talking about is algae that hasn't started growing yet. There are no fish in the tank yet. The tank is setup and cycling, but with no fish (I'm not going to get plants) I'm doing this thread as a precaution. Should I not get algae eaters and take steps to prevent it in the first place? Any idea on how I can do this?

 

[happypoet]

Just one thing to add here. If your dad won't let you get non-local snails for fear of them overbreeding or escaping, nerites need brackish to salt water for their eggs to hatch, so if you got 1, it would stay as 1 and would not be a risk of becoming invasive.
They are great at dealing with algae.

 

[fishboy7]

That's not what he thinks about, he says," are u going to spend money on them or catch one for free?" I tried to tell him it's only a $1 or 2 for them, but he is strict when it comes to money, so I'm still trying to win that front. I'll try to talk him into it one last time.

 

[fishboy7]

Also, if I do talk him into snails, how many Zebra Nerite Snails will it take to control algae?

 

[happypoet]

1 should do it for a 5, I'd think. They're terrific at the job.

 

[fishboy7]

Okay, thank u!

 

[cellodaisy]

This algae I'm talking about is algae that hasn't started growing yet. There are no fish in the tank yet. The tank is setup and cycling, but with no fish (I'm not going to get plants) I'm doing this thread as a precaution. Should I not get algae eaters and take steps to prevent it in the first place? Any idea on how I can do this?

I guess I'm confused then, because earlier you said...

There isn't a lot of growth in the 5g, but in the 10g there is A LOT! Also, both kind tanks have brown algae.

 

[fishboy7]

Oh, okay I guess I meant there wasn't any growth YET in the 5 gallon but in the 10 gallon there is a lot of growth. I didn't word it very well, so I'm very sorry for any confusion I may have caused!

 

[fishboy7]

I talked him into 1 zebra nerite snail. I feel very successful to have peacefully talked him into it because he can be stubborn at times. Anyway, now that the 5 gallon problem is solved, how many Otos should I keep in a 10 gallon? How about 2?

 

[smitty]

1 is definitely enough in the 5 gallon. I would probably go with 2 or 3 in the 10 gallon because after the algae is cleaned up 4 would have to really complete hard for that type of food.